Oral manifestations in 70 German HIV-infected women.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence of oral lesions in HIV-infected women, and to determine the association of oral lesions with the level of immunosuppression and the route of transmission.


METHODS
In a retrospective, cross-sectional study, a cohort of 70 HIV-infected women (median age: 32.5 y; median CD4(+)-cell count 262 per microliter) comprising 18% of all HIV-infected individuals (n = 389) was selected in an outpatient clinic. Oral lesions strongly associated with HIV-infection were evaluated.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of oral lesions was 27/70 (39%). Among HIV-infected women with CD4(+)-cell counts < 200 per microliter, the prevalence was 65% (19/29); and with counts > 200 per microliter, the prevalence was 27% (11/41). The prevalence of candidiasis and hairy leukoplakia was similar among those infected heterosexually or by intravenous drug use.


CONCLUSIONS
As reported in men, these findings demonstrate that oral lesions are common in HIV-infected women. Candidiasis is more likely to occur at low CD4(+)-cell counts, whereas no difference was seen regarding the level of immunosuppression and hairy leukoplakia. Interestingly, the route of transmission does not play a role regarding the presence of oral lesions among HIV-infected women.
Schmidt-Westhausen
A
A
Department of Oral Surgery and Dental Radiology, Universitätsklinikum Charité, Humboldt University Berlin, Germany.
Grünewald
T
T
Reichart
P A
PA
Pohle
H D
HD
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D017733:Leukoplakia, Hairy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous